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Background and purpose: Pesticides can accumulate in the body due to chronic toxicity. This accumulation is caused by direct exposure to the chemicals or indirect exposure, i.e. foods, breathing, and skin. This study was performed to assess the levels of diazinon and malathion residues in cucumber produced in Mazandaran province, Iran. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 132 samples of cucumber were collected from different cities in Mazandaran province during summer 2015. Malathion and diazinon were extracted from the samples using n-hexan and their residual levels were analyzed by QUECHERS and GC-MS. ppb sensitivity was also considered. Results: The mean residual contents of diazinon in all samples were lower than that of Iran standard levels. But the residual level of malathion was higher in some samples. The highest and lowest contents of malathion and diazinon were detected in samples obtained from Babol and Amol, and Babol and Kiakola, respectively. Conclusion: Wide application of pesticides in samples studied caused unacceptable levels of residuals, particularly malathion, therefore, permanent control of pesticide residues in vegetable products such as cucumber, is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Organophosphate pesticides are used most commonly for domestic, commercial, and agricultural purposes and have been found to be highly toxic. In essence, bioremediation has become one of the most important tools for removing these compounds in the environment, considering its higher efficiency when compared with the physicochemical methods. Materials and Methods: The biodegradation efficiency of two bacterial strains (i.e. Serratia marcescens BNA1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa BNA2) were assessed. In order to evaluate Malathion biodegradation, each sample was cultured on mineral salts medium containing Malathion as a sole carbon source. Malathion biodegradation efficiency of the strains was monitored in different culture media. The ability of bacterial isolates to degrade Malathion was studied using gas chromatography. Results: Serratia marcescens BNA1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa BNA2 were able to degrade Malathion. Biodegradation percentage in different treatments recorded were: BNA1+Ma (33.88%), BNA2+MA (26.45%), BNA1+BNA2+Ma (46/96%), BNA1+Ma+Tween (61.05%), BNA2+Ma+Tween (40.17%), and BNA1+BNA2+Ma+ Tween (67.79%). Conclusion: It could be speculated that the best degradation efficiency can be yielded using mixture of strains plus a surfactant. The results of this study can be used in the bioremediation of Malathion contaminate soil after doing the pilot experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of green tea extract on ovary tissue performance in rats treated by Malathion insecticide. Methods: In this research, 72 Wistar mature rats with ages of 2 to 3 months (approximate weight of 200±15 g) were experimented. Animals were divided into 9-octet groups of animals. Control group did not receive any medication. Control group was given 0.2cc physiological serum and experimental 1, 2 and 3 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/KG B.W. green tea extract respectively, the experimental 4 was given 40 mg/KG B.W. Malathion and the experimental 5,6 and 7 each received 100, 200 and 400 mg/KG B.W. tea extract respectively and 40 mg/KG B.W. Malathion. After 15 days, the rats' hearts were blooded, and the sex hormones concentration was measured by the prepared serum. Ovaries were then separated to count the ovarian follicles.. Results: Concentration of Estrogen, Progesterone, FSH and LH were significantly decreased in experimental group 4,compared to control and other groups. The primary and Graf follicles in experimental group 4 decreased and in experimental groups 2 and 3 significantly increased in comparison to control group. Atresia folliclesa had a significant increase in experimental group 4,compared to other groups. Primary and secondary follicles' and corpus luteum in experimental group 4 significantly decreased compared to control group. Conclusions: Malathion had an adverse effect on secretion of sex hormones in female rats, as well as the process of oogenesis, and green tea extract decreased those negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Scabies is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabiei and can be spread from person to person through skin contact. In this study, we have analyzed the effect of Malathion lotion 0.5% and compared that with the effect of Permethrin cream 0.5%. Materials and methods: In a randomized clinical trial 60 patients were divided into two groups to receive either Permethrin cream 5% or Malathion lotion 0.5%. Both groups were monitored every two weeks for one month. The qualitative data of both groups were compared using student t-test and chisquare test was applied to analyze the qualitative data. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in number of lesions at the begging of the study (P=0.1503). Also, no significant difference was seen in weeks two and four. But Malathion lotion was found to be more efficient than Permethrin (P=0.0163) in reducing the number of lesions; although the results were better in week four, but the difference was not significant (P=0.2940). Conclusion: This study showed high efficacy of Malathion 5% in treating scabies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]